N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a prevalent RNA methylation modification involved in the regulation of degradation, subcellular localization, splicing and local conformation changes of RNA ...transcripts. High-throughput experiments have demonstrated that only a small fraction of the m(6)A consensus motifs in mammalian transcriptomes are modified. Therefore, accurate identification of RNA m(6)A sites becomes emergently important. For the above purpose, here a computational predictor of mammalian m(6)A site named SRAMP is established. To depict the sequence context around m(6)A sites, SRAMP combines three random forest classifiers that exploit the positional nucleotide sequence pattern, the K-nearest neighbor information and the position-independent nucleotide pair spectrum features, respectively. SRAMP uses either genomic sequences or cDNA sequences as its input. With either kind of input sequence, SRAMP achieves competitive performance in both cross-validation tests and rigorous independent benchmarking tests. Analyses of the informative features and overrepresented rules extracted from the random forest classifiers demonstrate that nucleotide usage preferences at the distal positions, in addition to those at the proximal positions, contribute to the classification. As a public prediction server, SRAMP is freely available at http://www.cuilab.cn/sramp/.
Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone dark matter can interact with Standard Model fermion through the Higgs portal, and some models can emerge a cancellation mechanism that helps to escape the stringent ...constraints from direct detection experiments. In this paper we explore new constraints of these cancellation models on parameter space of non-zero momentum transfer, from both the current direct detection experiment and the neutron star temperature via the dark matter reheating mechanism.
Electrochemical energy storage with redox‐flow batteries (RFBs) under subzero temperature is of great significance for the use of renewable energy in cold regions. However, RFBs are generally used ...above 10 °C. Herein we present non‐aqueous organic RFBs based on 5,10,15,20‐tetraphenylporphyrin (H2TPP) as a bipolar redox‐active material (anode: H2TPP2−/H2TPP, cathode: H2TPP/H2TPP2+) and a Y‐zeolite–poly(vinylidene fluoride) (Y‐PVDF) ion‐selective membrane with high ionic conductivity as a separator. The constructed RFBs exhibit a high volumetric capacity of 8.72 Ah L−1 with a high voltage of 2.83 V and excellent cycling stability (capacity retention exceeding 99.98 % per cycle) in the temperature range between 20 and −40 °C. Our study highlights principles for the design of RFBs that operate at low temperatures, thus offering a promising approach to electrochemical energy storage under cold‐climate conditions.
Hot stuff when it gets chilly: Redox‐flow batteries (RFBs) for energy storage at subzero temperatures would facilitate the use of renewable energy in cold regions. Such non‐aqueous RFBs with high volumetric capacity, high voltage, and excellent cycling stability between 20 and −40 °C have been developed with the porphyrin H2TPP as a bipolar redox‐active material and a Y‐zeolite–poly(vinylidene fluoride) ion‐selective membrane.
We report a rational design of a sulfur heterocyclic quinone (dibenzob,ithianthrene‐5,7,12,14‐tetraone=DTT) used as a cathode (uptake of four lithium ions to form Li4DTT) and a conductive polymer ...poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)=PEDOT:PSS) used as a binder for a high‐performance rechargeable lithium‐ion battery. Because of the reduced energy level of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) caused by the introduced S atoms, the initial Li‐ion intercalation potential of DTT is 2.89 V, which is 0.3 V higher than that of its carbon analog. Meanwhile, there is a noncovalent interaction between DTT and PEDOT:PSS, which remarkably suppressed the dissolution and enhanced the conductivity of DTT, thus leading to the great improvement of the electrochemical performance. The DTT cathode with the PEDOT:PSS binder displays a long‐term cycling stability (292 mAh g−1 for the first cycle, 266 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.1 C) and a high rate capability (220 mAh g−1 at 1 C). This design strategy based on a noncovalent interaction is very effective for the application of small organic molecules as the cathode of rechargeable lithium‐ion batteries.
A noncovalent interaction: A sulfur heterocyclic quinone compound (DTT) and a multifunctional binder (PEDOT:PSS) were prepared and used together as a high‐performance cathode in a rechargeable lithium‐ion battery (see picture). Through a noncovalent interaction between DTT and PEDOT:PSS the dissolution of DTT into an electrolyte was reduced and the conductivity of DTT was enhanced.
A
bstract
We present two alternative proofs for the cancellation mechanism in the U(1) symmetric pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone-Boson Dark Matter (pNGB DM) model. They help us to have a better understanding ...of the mechanism from multi-angle, and inspire us to propose some interesting generalizations. In the first proof, we revisit the non-linear representation method and rephrase the argument with the interaction eigenstates. In this picture, the phase mode (DM) can only have a trilinear interaction with a derivative-squared acting on the radial mode when the DM is on-shell. Thus, the DM-quark scattering generated by a mass mixing between the radial mode and the Higgs boson vanishes in the limit of zero-momentum transfer. Using the same method, we can easily generalize the model to an SO(N) model with general soft-breaking structures. In particular, we study the soft-breaking cubic terms and identify those terms which preserve the cancellation mechanism for the DM candidate. In our discussion of the second method, we find that the cancellation relies on the special structure of mass terms and interactions of the mediators. This condition can be straightforwardly generalized to the vector-portal models. We provide two examples of the vector-portal case where the first one is an SU(2)
L
× U(1)
Y
× U(1)
X
model and the second one is an SU(2)
L
× U(1)
Y
× U(1)
B−L
× U(1)
X
model. In the first model the vector mediators are the
Z
μ
boson and a new U(1)
X
gauge boson
X
ν
, while in the second model the mediators are the U(1)
B−L
and U(1)
X
gauge bosons. The cancellation mechanism works in both models when there are no generic kinetic mixing terms for the gauge bosons. Once the generic kinetic mixing terms are included, the first model requires a fine-tuning of the mixing parameter to avoid the stringent direct detection bound, while the second model can naturally circumvent it.
Individuals with addictions often encounter environmental cues that may trigger repeated engagement in addictive behaviors despite adverse consequences. In substance use disorders, Pavlovian cues may ...influence instrumental behaviors (Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer or PIT), and dominant habitual control that is insensitive to outcome values may serve as a foundational mechanism in addiction development. Although existing research suggests learning associations play important roles in internet gaming disorder (IGD), the contributions of PIT effects, habitual control, and connections with behavior remain largely uninvestigated. The present study sought to examine specific transfer effects of monetary cues, general transfer effects of gaming-related cues, and habitual control over instrumental behaviors as reflected in devaluation sensitivity, probing their interrelations and associations with gaming behaviors. Forty-five adults with IGD and 42 adults with recreational game use (RGU) at baseline performed a PIT task with a devaluation procedure. Participants reported gaming behavior and addiction severity at baseline and a four-month follow-up. Results demonstrated (1) a greater specific transfer effect in the IGD group compared to the RGU group; (2) positive correlations between specific and general transfer effects in both groups; (3) specific transfer effects of Go behavior in the IGD group positively correlating with habitual control, and No-Go behavior in the RGU group negatively correlating with habitual control; (4) transfer effects and habitual control relating prospectively to participants' gaming phenotypes at the four-month follow-up. These findings offer early evidence linking Pavlovian and instrumental associations to the development of IGD and suggest potential targets for prevention and intervention strategies.
•Understanding cue-triggered biases and habitual control over instrumental behavior in IGD remains insufficient.•Adapted PIT task including specific PIT of monetary and general PIT of gaming cues components, and an outcome devaluation.•Compared with RGU, IGD showed a higher specific PIT effect, and similar general PIT effects and habit control.•The association between specific PIT effects and habit control was reversed between the two groups.•Transfer effects and habitual control were related to participants' gaming phenotypes at the four-month follow-up.
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•Fast room-temperature reduction of GO is demonstrated using CH4/Ar plasma.•CH4/Ar plasma realize hydrogen reduction and defect restoration simultaneously.•The C/O ratio of rGO ...increased from 2.2 to 10.6.•The conductivity of 264.5 S/m is superior to those of H2 plasma-treated rGO.•The reduction mechanism involves deoxidization and carbonization.•This approach is compatible with the industry of flexible electronics.
Plasma reduction of graphene oxide is a promising route towards large-scale and low-cost graphene production. Here we demonstrate a facile, heating-free approach of fast reduction of graphene oxide using inductively coupled methane/argon plasma. The reduction mechanism involves two coexisting and competing processes, which eventually determines the reduction efficiency. The defect restoration and etching-free effect of methane-based plasma produces reduced graphene oxide with performances superior to those achieved by room-temperature hydrogen plasma reduction. With the optimization of gas ratio and treatment time, the C/O ratio increased from 2.2 to 10.6 with an enhanced conductivity of 264.5 S/m. This approach paves the way towards fast, room-temperature and eco-friendly production of reduced graphene oxide for the applications of flexible electronics.
A
bstract
We study a dark matter model constructed by extending the standard model with an inert SU(2)
L
sextuplet scalar of hypercharge 1/2. The sextuplet components are split by the quartic ...couplings between the sextuplet and the Higgs doublet after electroweak symmetry breaking, resulting in a dark sector with one triply charged, two doubly charged, two singly charged, and two neutral scalars. The lighter neutral scalar boson acts as a dark matter particle. We investigate the constraints on this model from the monojet +
and soft-dilepton + jets +
searches at the 13 TeV Large Hadron Collider, as well as from the current electroweak precision test. Furthermore, we estimate the projected sensitivities of a 100 TeV
pp
collider and of a future
e
+
e
−
collider, and find that such future projects could probe TeV mass scales. Nonetheless, such mass scales only correspond to a subdominant component of the observed relic abundance if the dark matter particles solely originate from thermal production.
Oroxindin is a flavonoid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Huang-Qin, which has shown various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, etc. Thus ...far, the effect of oroxindin on colonic inflammation and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the tissue distribution of oroxindin and its therapeutic effects on ulcerative colitis (UC) as well as the underlying mechanisms. UC model was established in mice by administrating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in drinking water for 7 d. We first showed that oroxindin was largely absorbed by the colon as an active ingredient after normal mice received Huang-Qin-Tang, a traditional Chinese medicine decoction. UC mice were then treated with oroxindin (12.5, 25, 50 mg ·kg
·d
, i.g.) for 10 d. We found that oroxindin treatment greatly suppressed massive macrophages infiltration and attenuated pathological changes in colonic tissue. Furthermore, oroxindin treatment significantly inhibited the generation of IL-1β and IL-18 in the colon via inhibiting the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome formation and activation. In cultured macrophages, LPS induced NLRP3 inflammasome formation and caspase-1 activation, which were suppressed by oroxindin (12.5-50 μM). In LPS-treated macrophages, oroxindin dose-dependently restored the expression of TXNIP protein, leading to suppressing TXNIP-dependent NF-κB activation. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that oroxindin could be absorbed by the colon and attenuate inflammatory responses via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome formation and activation, which is related to the inhibitory effect on TXNIP-dependent NF-κB-signaling pathway. Hence, oroxindin has the potential of becoming an effective drug for treating UC.
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